The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-27
Farm and Garden Notes.

Farm and Garden Notes.
Seven tenths of the dry portion Of corn
is pure starch, and starch forms about
four-fifths of all human food.
If mounds were made around the base
of the trees to steady them or to keep
away mice, remove and scatter them.
If farmers were half as careful Of the
liquids annually wasted on farms as they
are of the solids the gain in the fertility
of the soil would be twice as rapid as by
the use of solids alone.
Some carefully conducted experiments
made in Germany appear to prove con-
clusively that beets and other vegetables
grown in rows running north and south
contain more saccharine matter than those
raised in rows running cast and west.
A Pekin duck, if forced by high feed
ing from the time it is hatched, will
weigh five pounds when ten weeks old,
costing about thirty cents for food, and
selling for double that price, while its
feathers and manure also possess value.
A gentleman engaged in forest culture
states that he meets with the best success
in raising trees by planting them two
feet apart in rows that are eight feet from
each other. In this space he plants and
cultivates row of corn and potatoes
each year till the trees are all large
enough to shade the ground and prevent
the growth of grass and weeds.
One mistake in poultry keeping is in
running the hens on the same plot OF
ground continually. believe it to be a
fact that they will not do as we'll in the
same quarters after running there a few
years. That has been my experience,
and have come to the conclusion that
some cheap, but warm shelter, should be
made and every few years removed to an
entirely new spot.
When you get trees from the nursery,
do not plant them hurriedly. Heel them
in, choosing dry, sheltered place; open
trench, lay in the trees, in an inclined
position, so that the tops will protect one
another, looking to the labels, that none
may be lost or misplaced; cover the roots
we'll with soil, leaving no air spaces, u.s.
ing enough earth or shed water. The
trees here will be much better off than if
planted out in cold soil, to be whipped
about by the drying winds.
Vines that were properly pruned last
fall require but little attention now. If,
however, pruning was neglected, it may
be attended to whenever the weather is
mild. E. Williams, prominent vine
grower in New Jersey, says: adopt
some system tempered with reason and
common sense and follow it. Prune
severely if you would get fine fruit:
Avoid asking the vine to produce beyond
its strength, More vines are ruined by
overcropping than by severe pruning.
Don't be too greedy"
There need never be any scarcity of
water suitable for farming purposes in
localities that are favored with an aver
age rainfall, provided what falls on house
and barn roofs be saved in cisterns. The
barns needed to shelter stock and the
provender for their winter feed will shed
water enough to last through the dryest
time in winter or summer. For house
use rain water is better than most well
water, provided it has first been filtered
Nearly all we'll water contains mineral
impurities, which make it unhealthful
for use.
Currycomb and brush we'll applied are
the best medicines to aid horses and cat
tie while they are shedding their coats.
These, if accompanied by plenty of
sound, wholesome food, will keep the ami
NAL in good condition. See to the har-
ness, and have it so we'll fitted that
bruises and gals will not occur. Look
especially to the collars and have them
fit the shoulders we'll, and keep clean.
Look to the feet of horses. Those at
work on soft ground are better off if
barefoot. Cows about to come in should
be watched, and as their time approaches
reduce their food, to prevent garget and
"ther troubles, giving plenty of good,
sound hay. Save only the best calves
with which to keep up the herd.
We have sometimes been obliged to re-
plow the garden, says the Cultioator, and
with somewhat heavy soil have found
so much advantage in it that we would
recommend it always where sufficient
time was allowed. 1t is important to
have some garden seed in the ground as
early as possible: and for these there is
only time for oae blowing, or possibly
scarcely that. But the greater part of
the garden may with benefit be plowed
two or even three times This not only
mixes the manure with the soil, but by
opening it to sunlight and air warns and
fits it for speedy termination of the seeds
put in it. This stirring of the soil is it.
self great factor in generating plant
food, and in some respects plowing is
better than any other method of cultiva-
ton. Most garden implements compact
the soil too much. The plow merely
turns over the soil, leaving it light und
with considerable amount of warm air
under each furrow to heat and dry the
cold soil as it rises through it.
The Frog Swan Ashore.